Device for capturing and conducting away liquids and/or gases escaping from a bed of a body of water

ABSTRACT

Capturing and conducting away fluids or gases escaping from a bed of water. Modules of identical design forming a hose system. Each module has a hose wall made of a flexible woven fabric. A flange is arranged at the open ends of each module surrounding the opening. Each module has stabilizing rings around the periphery, arranged in the longitudinal direction of the module at a distance (a) from each other, which is smaller than the diameter (D) of the module. A pressure equalization opening is formed in each module forming a hose section, each module has connectors for fastening buoyant/ballast bodies and the individual modules are joined, forming a hose system such that connectors for fastening buoyant/ballast bodies are located where two modules meet. At least one pressure equalization opening is located at the lower, open end of the hose system facing the bed of the body of water.

The invention relates to a device for collecting and transporting awayfluids and/or gases or a fluid-gas mixture escaping from a body ofwater, in particular crude oil or natural gas escaping from a bed of abody of water. The field of application of the invention also relates tocollecting and transporting away fluids or gases that escapeuncontrolled from devices introduced into the bed of a body of water.

A device for collecting and transporting away a crude oil—natural gasmixture escaping under water is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,605 A;the device has a downwardly open collecting bell which is sealinglyplaced on the seabed over the respective leak and to which abellow-shaped feed line extending to the water surface is connected. Thecollecting bell has floats, so that it can be pulled while floating inthe water to the exit point of the crude oil—natural gas mixture andthen lowered by filling the floats with ballast until the edge of thedownwardly open collecting bell is tightly seated on the seabed. Thefloats are made of hoses which surround the edge of the collecting belland can be filled with ballast fluid via hose lines.

The crude oil—natural gas mixture collected by the collecting bell istransported through the feed line to the water surface, from where it isoptionally transported via a further line to a vessel that receives themixture and separates the crude oil—natural gas mixture from theseawater carried along through the feed line.

DE 2941 228 C2 discloses another device, which has a downwardly opencollecting bell that can be lowered to the exit location of a crudeoil—natural gas mixture, wherein a separator for separating three phasesis arranged on the collecting bell; the separator forms a single unitwith the collecting bell and the collecting bell is connected to thelower of the separator and it is subjected to the hydrostatic pressureof the water column above. After separation, the separate phases of thecollected crude oil—natural gas mixture are transported away separatelyfrom the collection bell or the separator, respectively. Another deviceis known from DE 29 41 228 C2, which also includes a downwardly opencollecting bell that can be lowered to an exit location of a crudeoil—natural gas mixture; however, a feed line is connected to thecollecting bell, wherein the collected mixture is transported throughthe feed line to a 3-phase separator arranged distal from the collectingbell. The separator can be arranged at any depth between the collectingbell and the water surface.

Another device is known from DE 29 52 399 C2. This device has afunnel-shaped downwardly expanding hood formed as a hollow body which isopen towards the bottom. The hollow body of the hood and inlet isprovided with inlet and outlet openings for ballast. The hood can betransported to the exit location of the crude oil—natural gas mixturewhile floating in the water and is then lowered by filling the hollowbody of the hood with ballast, until the lower edge of the hood reststightly on the seabed. An inflatable bladder can be arranged on theupper, funnel-shaped narrower edge of the hood, which can be brought tobear against a pipe end protruding from the seabed, such as a submergeddefective feed pipe. The specially designed ballast space of the hood,for example in the form of individual chambers which can be separatelyfilled or emptied with ballast, enables good and safe positioning of thehood on the seabed. The ballast may optionally be pumped to the ballastspaces through separate ballast lines.

However, it has been observed that devices known from the prior art arenot sufficiently flexible for practical applications and frequently havea very complex design.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device forcollecting and transporting away fluids and/or gases or a fluid-gasmixture escaping from a bed of a body of water, which cab be flexiblyused and has a simple design.

The object is attained by a device with the features of claim 1. Theclaims 2 to 8 describe advantageous embodiments of the inventive device.

An inventive device for collecting and transporting away fluids and/orgases escaping from a body of water is composed of a plurality ofsubstantially identically constructed tubular modules that can beinterconnected to form a hose system. Each module forms a hose sectionmade of a flexible fabric. A respective flange surrounding thecorresponding opening is arranged on each of the two open ends of themodule forming a hose section. Each module forming a hose section hasstabilizing rings extending along the periphery of the hose wall, whichare arranged in the longitudinal direction of the module with a mutualspacing that is smaller than the diameter of the module. Furthermore, apressure equalization opening is formed in the hose wall of each hosesection forming a module. Each module has means for attaching buoyant orballast bodies. The individual modules that each form a hose section areinterconnected to a hose system, so that means for attaching buoyant orballast bodies are disposed at least in the joint region between tworespective modules, as well as at the ends of the hose system, and sothat at least one pressure equalization opening is disposed on the openlower end of the hose system facing the seabed.

The particular advantage of the inventive device lies in its simplemodular structure and in the possibility to interconnect a plurality ofmodules that each form a hose section by way of front-side-mountedflanges into a hose system of arbitrary length, wherein each module hasan inherent stiffness that adds up to an overall stiffness of the hosesystem. The hose system can thus be adapted to different water depthsand flow conditions. Due to their construction of a flexible fabric andtheir structure with stabilizing rings extending around the periphery,the modules can be folded in the longitudinal direction and easily totransported, requiring little space. Their essentially similarstructural design enables good logistics for a system inventory forapplications that cannot be preplanned.

For lowering and stably positioning the hose system in a body of water,buoyant or ballast bodies can be attached on each module forming a hosesection, generating such a buoyant or ballast force that thecorresponding module has a neutral buoyancy at a predetermined waterdepth. The entire hose system can then be positioned with excellentstability and substantially vertically in a body of water. Preferably,the means for attaching the buoyant or ballast bodies are arranged onthe flanges surrounding the end openings of a module.

Furthermore, retaining tabs may be arranged on the hose wall of a moduleto enable attachment of additional buoyant or ballast bodies. Theseretaining tabs may of course also operate to fasten the hose system inother ways.

The hose wall of a module forming a hose section is preferably made of acomposite material, more preferably of a composite fabric, for example atextile-metal or a textile-plastic fabric.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a pressure equalization openingmay be formed in the hose wall of each module. This pressureequalization opening can be designed as a check valve constructed sothat water can flow into the interior of the hose system, whereas fluidsand/or gases in the hose system cannot exit from the hose system throughthe pressure equalization openings. Due to the pressure equalizationopenings, the hose system is pressure-neutral, i.e., the internal andexternal pressure of a hose system that is arranged nearly vertically ina body of water is equal along its longitudinal axis.

An inventive device for collecting and transporting away fluids or gasesescaping from a bed of a body of water is operated pressure-neutral. Thefluids and/or gases in the hose system are transported only by thebuoyant force, in addition to the impulse when the fluids and/or gasesexit from the seabed.

A plurality of pressure equalization openings distributed around theperiphery may be incorporated in the hose wall of the lower, last moduleof the hose system facing the seabed.

In a preferred embodiment, the hose wall of the lower, last module ofthe hose system facing the seabed and annularly surrounding the loweropening of the hose system facing the seabed may be made of an elasticmaterial so as to evenly rest on the seabed along the periphery of thehose wall around the position where of the fluids and/or gases exit fromthe seabed.

In another preferred embodiment of the last module of the hose systemfacing the seabed, spacer elements oriented towards the seabed may bearranged around the opening facing the seabed. These spacer elementsprevent the lower, open end of the hose system facing the seabed fromsettling on the seabed. They keep the open end of the hose system at apreselected distance above the seabed. An annular pressure equalizationopening is thereby formed directly around the lower opening of the hosesystem facing the seabed, through which water can enter the hose system.

For collecting and transporting away fluids and/or gases exiting theseabed, initially a sufficient number of modules, with each moduleforming a hose section, are interconnected to form a hose system so thatits length is adequate for the water depth at the respective location.On the individual modules of the hose system, buoyant and ballast bodiesare attached on the provided means that have such a buoyant or ballastforce that the hose system is almost vertically aligned in the water.The pressure equalization openings provide pressure equalization, sothat the tubing has a pressure-neutral state along its length.Thereafter, the hose system is positioned so that its lower openingfacing the seabed is located above the seabed around the exit locationof the fluids and/or gases, which may also be a pipe end of a defectivefeed line protruding from the seabed. The hose system is lowered furtherby attaching additional buoyant or ballast bodies on the modules of thehose system, until the hose wall surrounding the lower opening of thehose system rests on seabed, or the spacer elements surrounding thelower opening are standing up on the seabed. The lower, last module ofthe hose system can additionally be anchored on the seabed by retainingelements.

The fluids and/or gases or the mixtures of fluids and gases escapingfrom the seabed rise in the hose system as a result of buoyant forcescaused by density differences between the fluids and/or gases that exitfrom the seabed and the water. The water suctioned in through thepressure equalizing openings is thereby transported to the top. Thefluids and/or gases, optionally also entrained water, are suctioned offat the top opening of the hose system located on the water surface, forfurther processing.

In addition to the aforedescribed process for the assembling andpositioning the hose system for collecting and transporting away fluidsand/or gases escaping the seabed, it would of course also be possible toinitially position a single module or an assembled group of modules byattaching buoyant or ballast bodies and to thereafter positionadditional modules individually or in groups in the body of water byattaching buoyant or ballast bodies, and to add these additional modulesto the preceding modules until a hose system extending to the watersurface is constructed.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to anexemplary embodiment. The appended drawings show in

FIG. 1 a module of a hose system forming a hose section,

FIG. 2 a hose system assembled from several modules,

FIG. 3 the joint between two modules,

FIG. 4 an embodiment of the module forming the end of the hose systemfacing the seabed, and

FIG. 5 another embodiment of the module forming the end of the hosesystem facing the seabed.

FIG. 1 shows a module 1 of a hose system forming a hose section,composed of a gas-tight and fluid-tight hose wall 2 made of atextile-metal fabric. A respective upper flange 3 and lower flange 4surrounding the two openings of the module are arranged at the two openends of the module 1 forming a hose section, wherein the hose wall 2 isattached to the flanges 3, 4 by way of clamping rings 5. Stabilizingrings 6 are arranged on the hose wall 2 extending along its periphery.The stabilizing rings 6 are arranged at a distance a from one another inthe longitudinal direction of the module 1, wherein the distance a issmaller than the diameter D of the module 1. Similarly, the distance ofthe stabilization ring 6 closest to the upper and lower flange 3, 4 tothe respective flange 3, 4 is smaller than the diameter D of the module1. A pressure equalization opening 7 is formed in the hose wall 2 of themodule 1. The pressure equalization opening 7 is disposed in thevicinity of the lower flange 4. Eyelets 8 which are distributed aroundthe outer periphery of the flange plates are arranged on the flanges asmeans for attaching buoyant or ballast bodies 9.

FIG. 2 shows a hose system assembled from several modules 1 forming ahose section. The number of modules 1 is selected so that the length ofthe hose system corresponds to the water depth. The individual modules 1are screwed together at the flanges 3, 4 and thus firmly interconnected.Spacer elements 11 are arranged around the opening of the hose systemfacing the seabed 10, wherein the spacer elements 11 point towards theseabed 10 and rest with their free ends on the seabed 10. They keep thelower, open end of the hose system facing the seabed 10 at a preselecteddistance above the seabed 10, thereby forming an annular pressureequalization opening about the lower opening of the tubing system facingthe seabed 10, through which water can flow into the hose system. Thearrows 12 are intended to illustrate the water flowing into the hosesystem. Likewise, water can enter the hose system for pressureequalization along the length of the hose system or the water depth,respectively, through the equalization openings 7 disposed in eachmodule. The lower opening of the hose system is positioned above theseabed 10 so as to cover the location from which the fluids and/or gasesmay escape from the seabed 10. The lines 13 illustrate the fluids and/orgases escaping from the seabed 10 and flowing into the hose system.

The upper opening of the hose system is positioned just above the watersurface 14.

Buoyant and ballast bodies 9 for alignment and positioning of the hosesystem are attached to the eyelets 8 of the individual modules 1 mountedon the flanges. The buoyant and ballast bodies 9 are dimensioned suchthat they each produce a buoyant or ballast force that keeps theindividual modules 1 at such a water depth that the hose system isoriented almost vertically in the water, that the opening of the hosesystem facing the seabed 10 is held above the seabed 10, that the freeends of the spacer elements 11 are pressed against the seabed 10, andthat the upper opening of the hose system is located just above thewater surface 14.

Fluids and/or gases 13 flowing into the hose system suction water 12into the interior of the hose system through the annular pressureequalization opening formed between the seabed 10 and the lower openingof the hose system as well as through the equalization openings 7located in the hose wall 2 of each module, until the pressure isequalized between the interior of the hose system and the surroundingwater. The inflowing fluids and/or gases 13 then flow due to the buoyantforce, wherein it is assumed that the inflowing fluids and/or gases 13have a lower density than water, through the hose system to the watersurface 14 where they can be removed through the upper opening of thehose system.

FIG. 3 shows the connection between two modules 1 wherein the upperflange 3 of a module 1 is screwed together with the lower flange 4 ofanother module 1.

FIG. 4 shows the end of the hose system facing the seabed 10, i.e. theopen lower flange 4 of the lower module 1 of the hose system facing theseabed 10. The flange 4 rests on the seabed 10 and is positioned suchthat the lower opening of hose system covers the location where thefluids and/or gases 3 escape from the seabed 10, so that the fluidsand/or gases 13 escaping from the seabed 10 flow into the hose system.Several pressure equalization openings 7 are arranged in the hose wall 2proximate to the lower flange 4 and are distributed around the peripheryof the hose wall 2, through which water 12 can flow into the interior ofthe hose system.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the module 1 forming the end of the hosesystem facing the seabed 10 with spacer elements 11 arranged on thelower flange 4 of the module 1; these spacer elements 11 may be supportsor, as shown in FIG. 5, anchoring cables which keep the lower open endof the hose system facing the seabed 10 at a preselected distance abovethe seabed 10, thereby forming an annular pressure equalization openingaround the lower opening of the tubing system facing the seabed 10,through which water 12 can flow into the hose system, as alreadydescribed with reference to FIG. 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 A module forming a hose section-   2 Hose wall-   3 Upper flange-   4 Lower flange-   5 Clamping ring-   6 Stabilizing ring-   7 Pressure equalization opening-   8 Eyelet-   9 Buoyant or ballast body-   10 Bed of a body of water, seabed-   11 Spacer elements-   12 Arrows to illustrate the water flowing into the hose system    through the pressure equalization openings-   13 Arrows to illustrate the fluids and/or gases escaping from the    seabed 10 and flowing into the hose system-   14 Water surface-   a Spacing between the stabilizing rings-   D Diameter of the module 1

1. A device for collecting and conducting away fluids or gases (13)escaping from a seabed, comprising a plurality of identicallyconstructed modules (1) forming a hose section that can be assembledinto a hose system, wherein each module (1) comprises a hose wall (2)made of a flexible fabric, a flange (3, 4) surrounding the opening isarranged at each of the two open end faces of the module (1), the module(1) comprises stabilization rings (6) disposed around the periphery ofthe hose wall (2) and arranged in the longitudinal direction of themodule (1) with a mutual spacing (a) that is smaller than the diameter(D) of the module (1), at least one pressure equalization opening (7) isformed in the module (1) forming a hose section, the module (1)comprises connectors (8) for attaching buoyant and ballast bodies (9),respectively, and wherein the individual modules (1) are interconnectedinto a hose system in such a way that connectors (8) for attachingbuoyant and ballast bodies (9) are disposed at least in a region of arespective joint between two modules (1) as well as at the ends of thehose system, and at least one pressure equalization opening (7) isdisposed at a lower end of the hose system facing the seabed (10). 2.The device according to claim 1, wherein the hose wall (2) is composedof a composite fabric.
 3. The device according to claim 1, whereinretaining tabs are disposed on the hose wall (2) of a module (1).
 4. Thedevice according to claim 3, wherein the modules include end-sideopenings and wherein the connectors (8) for fastening buoyant andballast bodies (9) are arranged on the flanges (3, 4) surrounding theend-side openings of a module (1) forming hose section.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure equalizationopenings (7) are is formed as check valves.
 6. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one pressure equalization opening (7)comprises several pressure equalization openings (7) that aredistributed along a periphery of the lower hose section formed on thelower open end of the hose system facing the seabed (10).
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the hose wall (2) of the lower, lastmodule (1) of the hose system facing the seabed (10) is in the region ofthe lower opening of the hose system facing the seabed (10) formed of aresilient material which surrounds this opening with an annular shape.8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a spacer elements (11)pointing towards the seabed (10) are arranged at the lower open end ofthe hose system facing the seabed (10), wherein the spacer elements (11)prevent the lower open end of the hose system facing the seabed (10)from resting on the seabed (10) and keep the lower open end of the hosesystem facing the seabed (10) at a pre-selectable distance from theseabed (10).